Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Markle Sparkle The Kate Effect
Which royal brand will win style war?
In the run-up to the wedding, Meghan caused several Canadian websites to crash by wearing their brands, including Line the Label, seen below in engagement photos.
She caused a 400% increase in traffic to jewellery site Birks, and a 1,000% rise in sales to sunglasses brand Finlay & Co, by wearing them.
Since the ceremony last Saturday, there has been a 160% increase in searches for Stella Mccartney wedding dresses – her choice of designer for her evening gown.
Richard Haigh, of Brand Finance, says: “Following the wedding, we estimated that her brand power will be £150million a year, which is the same as Kate’s.”
Her appeal may surpass Kate’s at the beginning, as she boosts US and UK brands, adds Professor Jonathan Shalit, of Intertalent. He says: “She could be the biggest fashion brand in the world.” It’s no secret that the Duchess of Sussex loves keeping fit and healthy, reportedly converting Prince Harry to green juices and helping him quit smoking.
She was pictured in yoga poses on her defunct Instagram and runs around Kensington Palace Green. Since she was snapped in nearby posh health shop Whole Foods, sales at organic independents and retailers have enjoyed a 9.7% sales jump to £359million.
She’s partial to wine, with her favourite red being full-bodied tignanello – after which her lifestyle blog The Tig is named. Her wedding is thought to have drawn in £500million to Britain’s economy including through tourism and memorabilia, says
Brand Nation. WHEN first on the scene, there was a frenzy to get Kate’s elegant look.
But experts predict the Duchess of Sussex could have more selling potential.
So will the Markle Sparkle usurp the Kate Effect? It’s estimated Kate pumps £150million in revenue to UK fashion every year, and her ability to sell out clothes is renowned.
When her Sarah Burton wedding dress went on display at Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2011, approximately £8million was raised for the Royal Collection.
Meanwhile, a £38 Topshop dress she wore while pregnant with Prince George sold out within an hour of her wearing it to film studios, left.
It’s not just high street and posh brands she helps promote.
A £10 bracelet in aid of Suffolk’s Treehouse Hospice sold out after the Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing one in 2012. Kate and Prince William’s beloved dog Lupo is a treasured addition to their family, and is regularly seen in official portraits, below.
The Kennel Club attributed Lupo to the raised profile in English cocker spaniels, following a 50% surge in searches for the breed on its website after they got the dog.
Meanwhile, the couple love taking the kids to the French Alps and after they were pictured visiting skiing resort Courchevel, bookings for the three nearest airports spiked with 57% more flights booked than over the same dates the previous year.